SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento State men's tennis program announced today that Jiri Novak will transfer from Grand Canyon, and begin play with the Hornets in the fall. Novak played two seasons at Grand Canyon, and will be a junior for the Hornets.
Novak, a 6-foot, 175-pound native of Prostejov, Czech Republic, becomes the second player of Sacramento State's 2022-23 recruiting class, joining Tyler Waddock of Calgary, Alberta.
The Novak file
• Played each of the last two seasons (2021, 2022) at Grand Canyon of the Western Athletic Conference
• Played Nos. 1 and 2 in both the singles and doubles lineups a year ago
• As a freshman in 2021, he played all season at No. 1 doubles, and Nos. 3, 4 and 5 in singles
• During that freshman season, he was a first team all-WAC doubles selection, and second team all-WAC singles choice
• Received both WAC singles and doubles player of the week awards
• Went 10-7 in doubles as a freshman, all the No. 1 spot in the lineup
• Helped the Antelopes to a 2021 WAC regular season and tournament championship, and NCAA Tournament appearance
• A 2020 graduate (high school) of Secondary Vocational School of Business and Trade
• Father, Jiri Novak, was a professional tennis player from 1993-2007, and reached as high as No. 5 in the ATP world rankings in 2002.
Head coach Kevin Kurtz quote - "Jiri competed towards the top of the lineup in both singles and doubles for a Grand Canyon team that won a conference championship. He comes from a tennis family, has a good all-around game, and will immediately add championship experience to our program. Not only is he a great doubles player, but he will be a solid addition to our singles lineup as well."
